Angled lift plates in media trays

ABSTRACT

A media tray may include a lift plate to lift a number of sheets of media, a spool, and a first plurality of cables and a second plurality of cables each mechanically coupling the lift plate to the spool wherein the first and second plurality of cables cause the sheets of media to interface with a media pick-up roller at a horizontally divergent angle relative to a pick-up roller.

BACKGROUND

Printing devices maintain an amount of media within trays in order to have access to the media during a printing process. These trays may occasionally be replenished with an additional number of sheets of media to continue printing operations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate various examples of the principles described herein and are part of the specification. The illustrated examples are given merely for illustration, and do not limit the scope of the claims.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a media tray according to an example of the principles described herein.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a printing device according to an example of the principles described herein.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a media supply device according to an example of the principles described herein.

FIG. 4 is a perspective cut-out view of a media tray according to an example of the principles described herein.

FIG. 5 is a perspective cut-out view of a media tray according to an example of the principles described herein.

FIG. 6 is a perspective cut-out view of a media tray according to an example of the principles described herein.

Throughout the drawings, identical reference numbers designate similar, but not necessarily identical, elements. The figures are not necessarily to scale, and the size of some parts may be exaggerated to more clearly illustrate the example shown. Moreover, the drawings provide examples and/or implementations consistent with the description; however, the description is not limited to the examples and/or implementations provided in the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As mentioned above, printing devices may be provided with a relatively constant supply of media using a number of trays or drawers. Some of these drawers are high-capacity drawers that hold multiple reams of media. Although this is merely an example, these types of drawers may include lift plates that lift the unused media towards a pick-up roller. These lift plates, however, remain horizontal as the lift plate is moved towards the pick-up rollers.

High-capacity media trays, for example, may implement a number of cables that are coupled to the lift plate. These cables may be coupled to the four corners of the lift plate so that the lift plate may be lifted by the cables. In some examples, the cables may be lifted using a winch. However, the pick-up roller, along with certain media separation rollers, may better operate if the approach of the media to the pick-up rollers is at an angle. This cannot be achieved with a lift plate that advances the sheets of media horizontally up the media tray.

The present specification describes a lift plate that causes media to interface with a pick-up roller at a non-horizontal angle. Specifically, the present specification describes media tray that may include a lift plate to lift a number of sheets of media, a spool, and a first plurality of cables and a second plurality of cables each mechanically coupling the lift plate to the spool wherein the first and second plurality of cables cause the sheets of media to interface with a media pick-up roller at a horizontally divergent angle relative to a pick-up roller.

The present specification further describes a printing device that may include a number of media trays, each media tray including a media plate to support a number of sheets of media and a winching system to winch at least a first set of two cables and a second set of two cables, the first and second set of cables coupled to the media plate wherein the winching system causes the media plate to be angled when the sheets of media interface with a pick-up roller.

The present specification further describes media supply device that may include a lift plate to hold an amount of media, a winch system comprising a motor and a spool, and at least a first cable and a second cable each coupled at a first end to the lift plate and at a second end to the spool wherein rotation of the spool causes a first cable to lift a first side of the lift plate while an amount of slack of the second cable is wound around the spool before lifting a second end of the lift plate.

As used in the present specification and in the appended claims, the term “a number of” or similar language is meant to be understood broadly as any positive number comprising 1 to infinity; zero not being a number, but the absence of a number.

In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present systems and methods. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the present apparatus, systems, and methods may be practiced without these specific details. Reference in the specification to “an example” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with that example is included as described, but may or may not be included in other examples.

Turning now to the figures, FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a media tray (100) according to an example of the principles described herein. The media tray (100) may be any tray that interfaces with a pick-up roller within a printing device and supplies sheets of media to the pick-up roller. In an example, the media tray (100) is a high-capacity media tray that can maintain multiple reams of sheets of media therein. In an example the media tray (100) is a media tray that may maintain any number of sheets of media therein including portions of reams. In the present specification, however, for ease of understanding and convenience in description, the media tray (100) will be described as a high-capacity media tray (100).

In some examples, the media tray (100) causes the sheets of media maintained therein to interface with devices used to introduce the media into the printing device such as the pick-up roller described herein. In addition to the pick-up roller, any number of other rollers may be utilized in the present examples that promote movement of any number of sheets of media out of the media tray (100) and into a media feed path within a printing device. One example of such an additional roller is a separator roller that helps to separate one sheet of media from another in order to make sure a single sheet of media enters the media feed path at a time. Other devices may also be used to introduce a sheet of media into the media feed path of the printing device and the present application contemplates those other devices.

In some printing devices, the pick-up roller may be arranged such that the most effective angle at which the sheets of media are to interface with the pick-up roller is at an angle that is divergent of horizontal with the leading edge of the sheets of media being higher at the pick-up roller than the other side. However, this is not possible in current high-capacity media trays (100). This may cause “no pick” situations where sheets of media are not able to be introduced into the media feed path via the pick-up roller. Still further, some media feed paths immediately downstream of the pick-up roller may be vertical in order to transfer each sheet of media up and into the printing device for printing. Attempting to translate a sheet of media from a horizontal position to a vertical position using rollers may damage or otherwise warp the sheets of media prior to printing. This may result in relatively poor quality prints. The present specification, therefore, describes a media tray (100) having a lift plate (105) that is tilted as it raises towards the pick-up roller of the printing device.

In order to tilt the lift plate (105), the media tray (100) may further include a first plurality of cables (115), a second plurality of cables (120), and a spool (110). The first (115) and second plurality of cables (120) may be coupled to opposite edges of the lift plate (105). In an example, the first plurality of cables (115) may be coupled to a first common edge of the lift plate (105): this first common edge being the edge of the lift plate (105) that interfaces with the pick-up roller. The cable may mechanically couple the first common edge of the lift plate (105) to the spool (110). In this example, the first plurality of cables (115) may mechanically couple the first common edge of the lift plate (105) with the spool (110) such that the first plurality of cables (115) are taut with no slack along the length of the first plurality of cables (115) between lift plate (105) and the spool (110). During operation of the lift plate (105), the spool (110) may begin to wind the first plurality of cables (115) thereon causing the first common edge of the lift plate (105) to be moved towards the pick-up roller.

The second plurality of cables (120) may also be coupled to the lift plate (105) at a second common edge of the lift plate (105). However, unlike the first plurality of cables (115), the second plurality of cables (120) may include some slack therein such that, during operation, the spool (110) may begin to wind up the slack present in the second plurality of cables (120). This delays the time in which the second common edge of the lift plate (105) begins to be lifted. As a consequence, the second common edge of the lift plate (105) rises later than the first common edge of the lift plate (105) causing a tilt in the lift plate (105). The angle of tilt may vary depending on a predetermined angle of interface between the lift plate (105) and the pick-up roller. In an example, the angle of the lift plate (105) may be between 5 and 17 degrees. In an example, the angle of the lift plate may be 10 degrees. In another example, the angle of the lift plate (105) may range from 0 to 17 during the above described lift plate (105) lifting process. In this example, as the slack in the second plurality of cables (120) is wound up on the spool (110), the angle of the lift plate (105) may remain constant as the spool (110) continues to wind up the first plurality of cables (115) and second plurality of cables (120). It should be noted that winding the first plurality of cables (115) and second plurality of cables (120) may continue until the sheets of media maintained on the lift plate (105) interface with the pick-up roller.

In an example, the second plurality of cables (120) may interface with an accumulation device that accumulates any slack that may be present in the second plurality of cables (120). In this example, the slack of the second plurality of cables (120) may be maintained at the accumulation device until the spool (110), via winding of the second plurality of cables (120), causes the second plurality of cables (120) to become taut. In an example, the accumulation device may include a number of rollers, biased via a spring, such that when the slack is taken out of the second plurality of cables (120), the bias of the spring is overcome and the slack is no longer maintained in the accumulation device.

The spool (110) may include a number of grooves defined therein such that a length of the first plurality of cables (115) and second plurality of cables (120) may be wound therein. In an example, the diameter of the spool (110) where the first plurality of cables (115) and second plurality of cables (120) are wound around may be equal such that as the spool (110) rotates, an equal length of the first plurality of cables (115) and second plurality of cables (120) may be wound onto the spool (110).

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a printing device (200) according to an example of the principles described herein. The printing device (200) may be any type of printing device that includes a media tray (205) that may maintain a number of sheets of media to be used by the printing device (200). In an example, the media tray (205) may be a high-capacity media tray (205) as described herein. Any number of media trays (205) may be included in the printing device (200). In some examples, a plurality of media trays (205) may hold different types, sizes, and amounts of print media in order to provide different print options for a user of the printing device (200).

Similar to FIG. 1, each of the media trays (205) may include a media plate (210), a first set of cables (220), and a second set of cables (225). In an example, the first set of cables (220) and second set of cables (225) may include at least two cables each with the respective cables coupled to a corner of the media plate (210). Additional cables may be included in each set of cables (220, 225) for additional support and may be wound on, for example, a spool (FIG. 1, 110) as described herein.

The media tray (205) and printing device (200) may further include a winching system (215). The winching system (215) may include a spool (FIG. 1, 110) as described in connection with FIG. 1 as well as a shaft and motor. The motor may be coupled to a housing within the printing device (200) and may be controlled by a processor associated with the printing device (200). In some examples, the motor may be deactivated when it has been detected that the media tray (205) has been opened by a user of the printing device (200). The motor may interface with a shaft that is mechanically coupled to the spool (FIG. 1, 110). The mechanical interface between the motor and the shaft may allow the motor and shaft to be coupled and decoupled each time the media tray (205) is inserted into the printing device (200) or removed from the printing device, respectively.

During operation, the printing device (200) may detect when the media tray (205) has been inserted into the printing device (200). Upon detection of the insertion of the media tray (205), the printing device (200) may direct the motor to drive the shaft and spool (FIG. 1, 110) to begin winding up a length of the first set of cables (220) and second set of cables (225). As described herein, however, the first set of cables (220) may not include any slack therein such that rotation of the spool (FIG. 1, 110) causes a first edge of the media plate (210) to draw closer to a pick-up roller of the printing device (200). However, because there exists an amount of slack in the second set of cables (225), the winding of the second set of cables (225) may delay the time when a second side of the media plate (210) is raised. This causes the media plate (210) to be drawn up to the pick-up roller of the printing device (200) at an ever-increasing angle until the slack in the second set of cables (225) has been accumulated on the spool (FIG. 1, 110). When the slack of the second set of cables (225) is accumulated on the spool (FIG. 1, 110), the second side of the media plate (210) also begins to rise, albeit at a consistently lower level than the first side of the media plate (210). This will continue until the sheets of media retained on the media plate (210) is depleted or until the media tray (205) is removed from the printing device (200) by a user.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a media supply device (300) according to an example of the principles described herein. The media supply device (300) may be any type of device that provides a number of sheets to a printing device. The media supply device (300) may be similar to the media trays (100, 205) descried in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2. In an example, the media supply device (300) is a void defined within a printing device that may be accessed by a user and print media may be added therein.

The media supply device (300) may include a lift plate (305), a winch system (310) and a spool (325) similar to those described in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2. The lift plate (305) and spool (325) may again be coupled together mechanically via at least a first cable (315) and a second cable (320). A proximal end of the first cable (315) and second cable (320) may each be coupled to the spool (325) while a distal end of each of the first cable (315) and second cable (320) may be coupled to the lift plate (305).

In an example, the media supply device (300) may include a number of guide members used to guide the lift plate (305) through the media tray (100, 205). In this example, portions of the lift plate (305) may interface with the housing of the media tray (100, 205) such that they may be guided vertically within the media tray (100, 205). In this example, the at least one first cable (315) may include a single cable that provides the lifting force for a first edge of the lift plate (305). Similarly, the at least one second cable (320) may include a single cable that provides the lifting force for a second edge of the lift plate (305). As described above, the first cable (315) may be taut between the lift plate (305) and the spool (325) such that winding of the first cable (315) around the spool (325) immediately causes the first edge of the lift plate (305) to rise. However, as the spool (325) begins to wind the first cable (315), a slack portion present in the second cable (320) may also be wound without the second edge of the lift plate (305) being lifted. After the slack in the second cable (320) has been wound around the spool (325) a length, the second cable (320) may be made taut and the second edge may start to rise as well. In this way, the lift plate (305) may be maintained at an angle as it continues to rise within the media tray (100, 205). The angle of the lift plate (305), at its maximum angle, may be between 5 and 17 degrees. In an example the maximum angle of the lift plate (305) may be 10 degrees. The angle achieved, however, may be dependent on the amount of slack provided in the second cable (320) and may be adjusted to achieve a particular angle of the lift plate (305).

FIG. 4 is a perspective cut-out view of a media tray (100) according to an example of the principles described herein. Portions of the media tray (100) have been removed for ease of viewing within the media tray (100). The media tray (100) may include a lift plate (105), a spool (110), a first plurality of cables (115), and a second plurality of cables (120). In the example shown in FIG. 4, a single cable of the first plurality of cables (115) is shown. Other cables may be included among the first plurality of cables (115) as will be described herein. Similarly, a single cable of the second plurality of cables (120) is shown but other cables may be included among the second plurality of cables (120).

The media tray (100) may also include a spool (110) that the first plurality of cables (115) and second plurality of cables (120) may be wrapped around when the spool (110) is rotated in the direction indicated by the rotation arrow (400). The spool (110) may be fixed to a shaft (405) that is driven by a motor within a printing system as descried herein. The shaft (405) may lead to an opposite side of the media tray (100) and include a second spool, not shown, with other cables that help to raise and lower the lift plate (105) as described herein. These other cables may be included in the first plurality of cables (115) and second plurality of cables (120) and may be used to help lift and angle the lift plate (105) as described herein.

The first plurality of cables (115) may directly couple a first edge (410) of the lift plate (105) to the spool (110) with relatively no slack present in the first plurality of cables (115). Thus, the first plurality of cables (115) may remain taut throughout the operation of the media tray (100). The second plurality of cables (120) may be coupled to a second edge (415) of the lift plate (105). The second plurality of cables (120), however, include an amount of slack as indicated in FIG. 4. The amount of slack present in the second plurality of cables (120) may vary depending on the angle at which the lift plate (105) is to be placed relative to a pick-up roller (420).

In an example, the media tray (100) may further include a number of pulleys (425) that guide the first plurality of cables (115) and second plurality of cables (120) as well as serve as a point from which the first plurality of cables (115) and second plurality of cables (120) may be hoisted.

FIG. 5 is a perspective cut-out view of a media tray (100) according to an example of the principles described herein. The media tray (100) of FIG. 5 may be similar to the media tray (100) described in connection with FIG. 4. The media tray (100) of FIG. 5, however, may further include an accumulation device (500). As described herein, the second plurality of cables (120) may include an amount of slack that may cause a second edge of the lift plate (105) to rise later than the first edge when the spool (110) begins to wind up the first plurality of cables (115) and second plurality of cables (120).

In the example shown in FIG. 5, the accumulation device (500) includes two rollers that, when the slack in the second plurality of cables (120) is wound on the spool (110), move in a direction as indicated by translation arrows (505). As the second plurality of cables (120) is made taut, the force of the second plurality of cables (120) against the rollers overcomes a force opposite the translation arrows (505) applied by, for example, a spring. When the lift plate (105) is at the bottom of the media tray (100), for example, the slack of the second plurality of cables (120) may be accumulated between the two rollers because the force of the second plurality of cables (120) against the two rollers is not sufficient to overcome the biased force of the springs. The accumulation device therefore prevents the slack in the second plurality of cables (120) from interfering with other moving parts of the media tray (100).

FIG. 6 is a perspective cut-out view of a media tray according to an example of the principles described herein. As described herein, the lift plate (105) may be advanced upwards towards the pick-up roller (420) by turning the spool (110) using the shaft (405). As the spool (110) begins to wind up a length of the first plurality of cables (115), the slack present in the second plurality of cables (120) is also wound. However, because the first plurality of cables (115) is taunt between the lift plate (105) and the spool (110), the first edge (410) of the lift plate (105) begins to rise when the spool (110) first begins to winch in the first plurality of cables (115). With the slack present in the second edge (415) of the lift plate (105), the rise of the second edge (415) of the lift plate (105) is delayed even when the spool (110) winds up an amount of the second plurality of cables (120). This results in an eventual maximum angle (θ) in the lift plate (105) being produced. Consequently, the lift plate (105) may present the sheets of media on the lift plate (105) at an angle as it interfaces with the pick-up roller (420). The maximum angle (θ) may be obtained when all of the slack in the second plurality of cables (120) is wound up and the second plurality of cables (120) is made taut. Between the time the first plurality of cables (115) is wound till the time that the slack in the second edge (415) of the lift plate (105) is completely wound onto the spool (110), the maximum angle (θ) may vary from 0 degrees to the maximum angle (θ). In an example the maximum angle (θ) is between 5 and 17 degrees. In an example, the maximum angle (θ) is 10 degrees.

Aspects of the present system and method are described herein with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems) and computer program products according to examples of the principles described herein. Each block of the flowchart illustrations and block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and block diagrams, may be implemented by computer usable program code. The computer usable program code may be provided to a processor of a general-purpose computer, special purpose computer, a printing device, or other programmable data processing apparatus to affect the functionality of the media tray (100) described herein. In an example, a processor in a printing device may control the activation of a motor that drives the shaft (405) to turn the spool (110) as described herein. The timing of the activation of the motor and the circumstances when the motor is activated may be controlled by the processor based on execution of certain computer readable program code.

The specification and figures describe a lift plate in a media tray of a printing device. The lift tray is made to interface with at least a pick-up roller of the printing device at an angle that is horizontally divergent. This may be done so that the media maintained on the lift plate may be relatively easier to be picked and translated through a media feed path in the printing device. Additionally, the angled lift plate may allow for relatively better separation of the individual sheets of media thereby preventing a plurality of sheets of media from entering the media feed path at a single time. Further, the tilt of the lift plate will not affect the capacity of the tray because the lift plate, in an initial state, may remain flat on the bottom of the media tray until the sheets of media are to be raised. At that point, an angle is produced so that the sheets of media may interface with the pick-up roller at an angle divergent of horizontal.

The preceding description has been presented to illustrate and describe examples of the principles described. This description is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit these principles to any precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A media tray, comprising: a lift plate to lift a number of sheets of media; a spool; and a first plurality of cables and a second plurality of cables each mechanically coupling the lift plate to the spool; wherein the first and second plurality of cables cause the sheets of media to interface with a media pick-up roller at a horizontally divergent angle relative to a pick-up roller.
 2. The media tray of claim 1, wherein the horizontally divergent angle is between 5 and 17 degrees angled down relative to the pick-up roller.
 3. The media tray of claim 2, wherein the length of the first plurality of cables causes a first side of the lift plate to obtain a position higher towards the pick-up roller relative to a second side of the lift plate.
 4. The media tray of claim 3, wherein the length of the second plurality of cables causes the second side of the lift plate to obtain a position lower from the pick-up roller relative to the first side of the lift plate.
 5. The media tray of claim 1, wherein a first side of the lift plate remains in a higher position than a second side of the lift plate while the spool winds up a length of both the first plurality of cables and the second plurality of cables.
 6. The media tray of claim 1, wherein the second plurality of cables interfaces with an accumulator device to maintain a slack amount of cable while the lift plate is located at a bottom-most portion of the media tray.
 7. A printing device, comprising: a number of media trays, each media tray comprising: a media plate to support a number of sheets of media; and a winching system to winch at least a first set of two cables and a second set of two cables, the first and second set of cables coupled to the media plate; wherein the winching system causes the media plate to be angled when the sheets of media interface with a pick-up roller.
 8. The printing device of claim 7, wherein the media tray is removable from the printing system.
 9. The printing device of claim 7, wherein each of the winching system comprises a spool to wind-up the first and second set of cables.
 10. The printing device of claim 9, wherein the spool comprises a coupler to interface with a drive motor of the printing device.
 11. The printing device of claim 9, further comprising an accumulation mechanism to accumulate a slack amount of cable of the second set of two cables.
 12. The printing device of claim 7, wherein the angle of the media plate is between 5 and 17 degrees angled down relative to the pick-up roller.
 13. A media supply device, comprising: a lift plate to hold an amount of media; a winch system comprising a motor and a spool; and at least a first cable and a second cable each coupled at a first end to the lift plate and at a second end to the spool; wherein rotation of the spool causes a first cable to lift a first side of the lift plate while an amount of slack of the second cable is wound around the spool before lifting a second end of the lift plate.
 14. The media supply device of claim 13, wherein a portion of the spool where the at least first cable and second cable are wound around have a common diameter.
 15. The media supply device of claim 13, further comprising an accumulation device to accumulate the slack of the second cable when present. 